Hotel Sindone

Hotel Sindone occupies a converted French colonial building on the eastern quay of Saint-Louis Island, with most of its rooms facing directly onto the Senegal River. Shuttered windows, tiled floors and wrought-iron balconies set the period tone, and the river views from the upper rooms are the reason to book here rather than inland. The ground-floor restaurant is known locally for its steaks, and the riverside terrace is a quiet spot for a sundowner as the pirogues drift past. As an atmospheric three-star it's all about location and character: you're on the island itself, within walking distance of both bridges, the galleries and the colonial grid of peeling facades. Air conditioning, free WiFi and a bar cover the practicalities. For travellers who want to wake up on the river in the middle of UNESCO Saint-Louis, it's a charming, well-priced choice.